A man wielding a knife or box cutter has stabbed a French soldier in the neck near Paris.

Police union spokesman Christophe Crepin released a description of the suspect to the public Saturday.

''We know that he is tall, athletic, we think he was wearing a white tunic and sneakers," Crepin said. "Things are evolving, in any case everything has been recorded on video and we will find him.''

French President Francois Hollande said authorities searching for the attacker are "exploring all options," including whether there are any possible links with the recent slaying of a British soldier. The president spoke in Ethiopia, where he is visiting to mark the anniversary of the creation of the African Union.

French authorities say the soldier will survive the attack, which occurred as he was patrolling the La Defense shopping area with two other soldiers.

The stabbing raises concerns of copycat strikes following Wednesday's slaying of a British soldier on a London street in broad daylight.